Vegetable cutter



Apr. 24, 1923.

F. G. BREWER v VEGETABLE GUTTER 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 12, 1922 Apr. 24, 1923. 2 1,452,546

,F. G. BREWER VEGETABLE CUTTER Filed 'Dril l2, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 D14/vean to@ Faq/JK @6km/5 Apr. 24, 1923.

- 1,452,546 F. G. BREWER VEGETABLE CUTTER Filed Apil 12. 1922 3 sheets-Sheet 3 wif/2 ess e s- MMM; f

Patented Apr. 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRAK G. BREWER, oF HUNTER, NORTH DAKOTA.

vnGErAB'LE our'rnR.

Appntauon mea April' 12, ieee. serial No. 551,949.

To all wliom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK G. BREWER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hunter, in the county of Cass and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vegetable Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

vide an improved hopper construction embodying simplified means for holding vegetables in aposition to` be operated upon, and meansfonpreventing displacement o'f the vegetable from the hopper. y

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character which is of exceptionally durableconstruction, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, and one which efficiently accomplishes its functions.

Other 4objects of the invention will become apparent during the vcourse of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a partfof the description and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout `the several views:

Figure l is a side elevation of the invention,

. Figure 2 is a longitudinal section' through the same, M Figure 3 is a transverse section through the machine,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of thestationary cutters,

Fi re 5 is a perspective view of a part of thev movable presser arm, v

Figure 6 is a perspective view of another one of the stationary cutters,

Figure 7 iSasuppOrttherefr; an'd Figure 8 is; a perspective view of the presser or iriaslier arm.

In the d'awings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferredeibodirnentof invention,' the numeral 1 designates' Surrrthg frame, i111 its eilf' which, @dns-la @if side. has 2; and ad bas Si what rammenta to* foin a' tangular frame. yThis fra-me is supported upon legs 4; depending from the kcorners thereof.

The hopper structure 5 includes a vertically disposed plate 6 secured between the side bars 2 at one'end of the frame. This plate carries the stationary blades or cutters, one of which as shown in Figure 4 is a straight blade 7 extending from a fastening plate 8 arranged' at right angles thereto so that when the plate 8 is fastened to the plate 6 by means of bolts or any other suitable fastenings, the blade 7 i will be arranged longitudinally of the frame. The plate 6 also supports other blade holders 9, two of whichv are shown in the present structure, and each of which carries a pair of spaced upstanding arms l0 which are shouldered at ltheir upper ends to support stationary blades 11 'which are arranged transversely ofthe frame l and directly beneath the stationary blade 7. The upper ends of the arms l() are apertured as are the blades 11, whereby they are detachably connected to the holder and can be readily removed to be sharpened. In order toholdthe vegetable' position to be eut into piecesl directly above the A stationary blades, a pair of spring pressed vplates 1 2 hinged at their upper edges to L-shaped supports 13. Each support has one end threaded to -be received through a vertical opening in one of the side bars 2 whereby a nut Vcan.. be associated therewith for securing the support in position upon its respectivebar so that one arm extends vertically and the vother arm 14 thereof is arranged horizontally and extends toward the platee so that the free end of leach horizontal arm can be supported in an end of a horizontal strapv 15 secured transversely to the upper'end of the plate 6, These two vegetable holding plates 12 are normally retained in downwardly converging relationship, as clearly seen lin, Fig. 3 by means of the space between the holder plates 12, so that the latter, the upright plate 6 and the shield 13 form a hopper structure.

The means for pressing the vegetables onto the stationary blades consists essentially of a rotary presser arm 2O which is securedibetween itsends on a driven shaft 21 journalled transversely of the Yframe 1 in bearings 22 which are arranged substantially intermediate the ends of the supporting frame. One end ot this shaft 21 extends beyond the frame and is there fastened to a sprocket 23 which is driven by a smaller sprocket 24 keyed to a. shaft 25, journalled in bearings 26 carried by the end of the vframe opposite the cutters. A. chain 27 is et course associated. with the sprockets 23 and 2e so that the shaft 25 imparts rotary movement to the shaft 21. A pulley wheel 28 is keyed to the shaft 25 to transmit movement thereto.

The presser arm 2O has its end adjacent the cutters forked as clearly shown in Figure 8 and toeach arm 29 of the fork is fastened a plurality of blocks which are spaced vertically to permit the arm to pass the critters during its rotary movement.

The blocks oi the two arms are arranged directly opposite one another so that a number of transverse slots 31 are provided in the presser head formed by the fork 29. As clearly shown, the blocks of the two arms 29 extend toward each other and their inner ends are spaced apart to provide the head with a longitudinally extending slot 32 adapted to receive the longitudinally extending blade 7 when the presser head is depressed. The under face 33 of each block 30 as clearly shown in Figures 5 and 8 is inclined so that the smaller ends of the tapered blocks 30 are arranged innermost and the under surface oit' the presser head is formed so as to center the vegetable on the outters during the downward movement of the arm.

The opposite end of the presser arm is provided with an adjustable weight 34 to maintain tension on the drive chain 27 so that there will be pause or lierk of the presser arm upon coming in contact with the vegetables. lt will be understood that the vegetable to be cut or seeded is placed in the hopper structure so that it is supported directly above the stationary blades 7 and 11 by means of the guide plates 12; the springs 16 on the links 17 acting to hold the plates 12 in a downwardly converging relationship whereby their lower free ends abut opposite sides of the stationary blade 7 as hereinbefore stated. As the presser head 29 moves downwardly for engagement with the vegetable. the arm 20 directly in back of the head 29 passes through a vertically arranged Slot in the curved shield plate 19 so that the head 29 may engage the vegetable to force the same into contact with the stationary blades 30. Bue to the 4fact that the under sides of the blocks 30 are so formed and arranged as to provide the presser head with an inverted li-shaped longitudinally extending channel7 it will be appreciated that when the head engages the vegetables resting upon the plates 12, there will be no possibility ol: the vegetable slipping out of engagement with the presser head so that it is positively forced down upon the stationary blades 7 and 11. es the vegetable is -forced further downwardly by the presser head, the guide plates l2 separate to permit passage oit the vegetable and the presser head, itbcing understood that the stationary blades 7 and 1l pass through the spaces between the blocks 30 oil the presser head to permit complete dissection of the vegetable.

After the presser head has forced the vegetable thru the blades and freed itself oF the resistance incident thereto; its natural tendency is to lerch forward, but the counter balance weight 3e comes into play to minimize this action and cause the presser arm to maintain a uniform rotation. As soon as the head passes beyond the guide plates, the coiled springs 16 on the links 17, force them inwardly until they come in contact with the stationary blade 7 which limits their further upward movement and retains them in correct position to properly receive thenext vegetable or batch of vegetables placed in the hopper. Other vegetables to be cut are then placed in the hopper structure while the presser arm 20 is completing its revolution, it being understood that the rotation of the arm is'regulated so that as quickly as vegetables are placed in the hopper, the presser head is descendinor toward the hopper to pass therethru,

lllhe foregoing description and the accompanying drawings have reference to the pre- Ylerred or approved embodiment of my invention. It is to be understood however, that such changes may be made in construction and arrangement of parts, materials, dimensions, etc., as may prove expedient and fall within the scope ot the appended claims.

Having thus described and illustrated my invention what I claim is:

1. A vegetable cutter comprising a supporting frame, a plate secured thereto and rising therefrom and' constituting part of a hopper structure.r a pair ot L-shaped supports arranged on opposite sides of the iframe, each support including a vertically disposed arm secured to the supporting frame and a horizontally disposed arm supported by said first mentioned plate. a vegetable supporting plate hinged to the horizontal arm of each L-shaped support to depend therefromn spring means associated with the vegetable supporting plates for normally retaining them in a downwardly ing vegetables into engagement with the .blade and causing separation of the vvegetable supporting plates.

2. A vegetable cutter including a plural-y ity of cutter blades disposed angularly relative to one another, a presser member adapted to co-ope'rate therewith and including a plurality of spaced oppositely disposed blocks, all of said blocks being spaced from each other to permit the passage of said blades, and the lower faces of said blades being inclined to provide the underface of the presser member with an upwardly tapered recess adapted to engagea vegetable to center the same upon the cutter blades.

`3. A vegetable cutter comprising a supporting frame, a plate secured thereto and rising therefrom and constituting parts of a hopper structure, a pair of L-shapedv supports arranged on opposite sides of the frame, each support including a vertically disposed arm secured to the supporting frame and a horizontally disposed `arm supported by said first mentioned plate, a Vegetable supporting plate hinged to the horizontal arm of each L-shaped support to depend therefrom, spring means associated `with the vegetableA supporting plates for normally retaining them in a downwardly converging relationship to support vegetables, a plurality of cutter blades disposedv y angularly relative to one another, a presser member adapted rto cooperate therewith andincluding a plurality of spaced oppositely disposed blocks, all of said blocks being spaced from each other toj permit the passage ofsaid blades, and the lower faces of said blades being inclined to provide the under face of the presser member with its outwardly tapered recess adapted to engage a vegetable to center the same upon the cut- 7 ter blades; y

In testimony whereof l ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK G. BREWER.

Witnesses:

B. A. HEILAND, ELLA BonT'rcHnR. 

